Herb's record stays intact thanks to Nationals' defense

In 1955 a hard-throwing, 22 year old rookie lefthander started his major league career striking out 50 batters in his first five starts, a record that still stands tonight thanks to the sub par defense by the Washington Nationals.

 Fifty five years ago, it was Herb Score who was the hurler that posted the feat for the Cleveland Indians. Score struck out 245 in 1955 enroute to a 16-10 record. Fast forward to Turner Field in Atlanta tonight and you have a young righthander by the name of Stephen Strasburg, a rookie out of San Diego State who many say should already be penciled in on the National League All Star roster.

He's that good. Unfortunately, his team is not. The young man was cruisin' again tonight. He had struck out seven and was within two of Score's record when trouble struck in the seventh inning.

A muffed ground ball at shortstop led to an unearned run in the bottom of the seventh and opened the flood gates as the Braves went on to a 5-0 win. Strasburg dropped to 2-2. His 48 strike outs are in the books, but the Nationals fumbled another one away and dropped to 33-44 on the season.

I get the feeling Strasburg, if given the chance, could lead the National League to a win at the All Star Game next month, but his team will see to it that he won't be there. The Nationals just may have the best pitcher in baseball this season. Unfortunately, Washington is stuck in the NL Eastern Division cellar for the remainder of the year.

As for the 1955 Cleveland Indians, well they went 93-61 that season and besides having Mr. Score, they also had Early Wynn, Bob Lemon and Bob Feller.

Wow! What a pitching staff that was!